Check out his "conditions" for a consultation! Wants to be payed for a quote? That's customer profiling to a TEEEE!

YardPro

02-07-2006, 11:30 PM

we do the same for landscape designs..
eliminates the casual shoppers.

kootoomootoo

02-07-2006, 11:53 PM

""You have no issue with paying a consultation fee and are not just looking for a competitive bid or a free estimate.
You like the projects featured on this site and want something similar.
You are a decision maker and are prepared to move forward with your project now.
You want something special, are result oriented and desire the best value and not necessarily the lowest cost for your project.
You have more than a passing interest and will definitely be hiring a professional to design and install a system. It's just a matter of deciding on who you'll choose.
You do not have another major project first that will leave you with no viable budget.
You value the services of a dedicated expert specialist.
You are not considering doing the work yourself or looking for design ideas to relay to a general practicioner such as a landscaper or electrician.
You want a no-nonsense High performance system designed and built to last. ""

luv it

Very nice website too. Actually just pricing out a 40 fixture install as we speak.

steveparrott

02-10-2006, 09:58 AM

I'm also a great fan of Mr. Gambino's website. He has the best collection of excellent articles on landscape lighting on the Internet. Everyone reading this post should visit his site.

Very nice..At first it was a lot to look at but after a few it was very easy to navigate..

NightScenes

02-14-2006, 10:23 PM

Makes Paul Goesselin Sr's. jobs look amatuer

http://www.GAMBINOLANDSCAPELIGHTING.com

Best landscape lighting site I've ever seen by far.

Man, I was gone a couple of weeks and I already have someone calling me amatuer? I don't know who you are, landscapelight, but I do know that I certainly don't deserve to have you calling me amatuer. I do not have a professional photographer and have to take all of my own pictures with my little cannon A80. In that aspect, I am an amatuer, but I would put my design/installation up against anyone in the country. I do know Mike Gambino's work and he is a wonderful lighting designer. I would also think that he would not like the idea of you criticizing someone who is out here trying to help others raise the bar and do quality work.

Peace be with you,

landscapelight

02-14-2006, 11:59 PM

No disrespect intended Paul, I was just blown away when I came across the site. Looks like the guy has been there and done everything under the sun. Or is that the moon. Paul, Do you know Mike Gambino?

NightScenes

02-15-2006, 09:28 AM

I'm sorry that I might have takin' your comments the wrong way. Mike does have an outstanding web site.

I have not met Mike, though I do know about him. He is a very good designer and I respect his work. One thing I must say is that I believe my work would look much better than it does, if I would hire a professional photographer as well. Since I take my own pictures and I built my own site, it doesn't look as good as it could. I hope that after I send my daughter to collage, I might be able to get some of this stuff done by professionals.

So, landscapelight, how about your work? Do you have some pics that you would like to share? Do you have a web site? Let's here about you.

By the way, welcome to the forum. I was away when you joined and didn't have a chance to welcome you aboard.

landscapelight

02-15-2006, 09:45 AM

I don't have a site yet but with all due respect I heard that Gambino takes all of his own photos as well. I find it hard to believe that he's a one man band considering the quantity and quality of the projects on his website. I sent him an e-mail asking a few questions and didn't get a reply. Is he for real? Or a front for some manufacturer or something. The site looks like it costs $25,000 to build . Hardly typical of your average contractor.

steveparrott

02-15-2006, 10:30 AM

Paul,

Sounds like you might benefit from an upgrade in your photo equip. You've probably seen my article on the subject, but you may not be aware that I've posted the contents of the photo kit that I use and recommend. To access that you can go to the bhphoto.com website, click on wish lists, then in the public section, type in my first and last name.

Using the Canon EOS 20-D, I've been blown away by the results. Some important accessories that I use are a level that attaches to the hot shoe, a polarizing filter to darken the sky, a roll of black foil to shield street and post lamps. It's all housed in an airtight rugged case that you can throw in a truck and even lock up if needed. The total cost is about $2000, but that's the investment you have to make to get great photos of your great projects!

NightScenes

02-15-2006, 07:20 PM

Steve, thanks for the tips. I will definately look into that. My A80 is a long way from where I need to be.

Landscapelight, Gambino now manufactures as well as designs. I don't think he installs any longer, but I don't know this as a fact.

landscapelight

02-16-2006, 10:32 PM

"Gambino now manufactures as well as designs. I don't think he installs any longer"

Paul what makes you say that? I Hope it's not true. We can't afford to lose an icon in this business.

niteliters

02-18-2006, 08:34 PM

charging for you initial design consultation, your design, your lighting demo, if requested are all good. We implement parts of the above. but take a deep breathe. Gambino has many decades of experience and has pioneered many of the techniques and some of the fixtures used in this industry. His client list is long and influential. I would take some time to make sure what you're offering is worth paying for or you will soon find yourself with no one wanting to pay you for anything. We have spent many years developing a good name, aquiring knowledge, striving to become experts in our field. Only then were we able to justify a fee for our time. If you decide to start charging for anything make sure you have a well thought out plan in all aspects of your presentation.

niteliters

02-19-2006, 09:05 AM

additionaly, gambino last I knew was still doing installs by himself. You don't need a large staff to be successful in this, thats why he can be what some might say "arrogant" on his wed site. He can sit back and pick out only the best projects. My Father hasn't seen him in 3 years now so what he is or isn't doing I'm not absolutely sure.

landscapelight

02-19-2006, 04:34 PM

I got a response to the e-mail I sent him last week. Here's what he wrote.

Thanks for your interest in my design/build landscape lighting business. I shall attempt to answer a few of your questions, the rest you'll have to wait till the book comes out (ha ha).
Yes, I am a 1 person operation, no employees, no sales staff and do indeed shoot all of my own photography. I work 6 days a week and sometimes 1/2 days on Sunday meeting with clients/prospects.
Yes, I do have exclusive proprietary cast brass and copper landscape lighting products manufactured for me with my company name and website address or phone number in raised letters on them.
No, I currently do not offer them for sale to other installers, only clients who hire me for design/build services. However I may consider doing so in the future, outside my service area, if the demand was there.
No, I have not written a book on landscape lighting but maybe someday. I'm glad you are enjoying my articles.
No comment on how much I make per year. I will say that I have done very well in this business.
Thank you for recognizing my contribution to this industry. Unfortunately much of it goes uncredited. Although in all fairness I have "borrowed" as many ideas from others as I have innovated.
There are many reasons I went ahead and had my own brand of landscape lighting products manufactured for me. The internet has given the consumer the power of price shopping landscape lighting products from the convenience of their own home 24/7. Unfortunately for the professional design/builder, major manufacturers have done a very poor job of protecting the main purchaser of their products from this. I know of none who doesn't have their products featured on websites with pricing either at or slightly above contractor cost. I can remember years ago when I found a website that was actually selling branded product for less than what I was buying it for from my distributor. Totally unacceptable. Obviously I don't have this problem anymore.
When you ask "how I get away with charging a consultation fee" you make it sound like I'm taking advantage of someone. Not the case at all. Website clearly states it and it is mentioned during phone conversations with prospects. It was a business decision I have never regretted. In fact I attribute 50% of my success to it. The fee is minimal and truly does seperate the sincere from the not so sincere. I recommend you try it.
The best advice I can give you is to do excellent work, use excellent products, make a name for yourself locally and stand behind your system when there is a problem and take care of your clients. Build a reputation as a stand up person to deal with. Network with builders, designers, architects, landscapers that serve the same client base as you. Study other succesful service businesses in your area and model them. Good luck and thanks for the kind words.

Regards,
Mike G

Pro-Scapes

02-19-2006, 05:06 PM

Makes Paul Goesselin Sr's. jobs look amatuer

http://www.GAMBINOLANDSCAPELIGHTING.com

Best landscape lighting site I've ever seen by far.
'
I took the first line of this very personally. Maybe more so than Paul himself. For a few weeks now Paul has taken on several occasions some of his time to give me tips and pointers on the ins and outs of lighting. He has been very polite and has offered everyone in this forum his time and help if they ever need it.

Pauls work is top notch. Gambinos is also at the extreme end of high quality.

The differences in the photo quality definatly play a part in it. As Paul said he uses lower end photo equipment but I bet 95% of the people on this site wish they could do half the lighting jobs Paul does.

Bottom line is they are both great lighting techs. Seems like Gambino has a higher end client base on most of his photos tho that Paul may not have in his area. Thanks again Paul for all your help. I hope my jobs turn out with the quaility of yours!

landscapelight

02-19-2006, 05:42 PM

Billy everyone is entitled to their opinion and I stand behind my original statement which started this thread. Quality of photos aside the designs just are night and day difference like comparing a Ferrari to a chevrolet. Goesselin is decent but when you shamelessly post photo's of your jobs all over the site for no other reason then to say look at me then you'd better be able to handle criticism when someone feels that your work isn't as good as you think. There are also other designer's whose projects are featured on another association website which is affiliated with Unique that are more talented than Goesselin and you don't see them on here posing to be king of the hill. Don't sell them short just because you don't have access to them as you do Goesselin. That brings up another issue, if Goesselin was so succesful how is he able to spend so much time posting to all of these message bds. I'm up to my azz in snow in upstate NY that's my excuse but Texas is a mild climate state where you can install year round, No? Either way sorry you took my post to heart but that's my opinion on the matter.

Pro-Scapes

02-19-2006, 07:34 PM

Billy everyone is entitled to their opinion and I stand behind my original statement which started this thread. Quality of photos aside the designs just are night and day difference like comparing a Ferrari to a chevrolet. Goesselin is decent but when you shamelessly post photo's of your jobs all over the site for no other reason then to say look at me then you'd better be able to handle criticism when someone feels that your work isn't as good as you think. There are also other designer's whose projects are featured on another association website which is affiliated with Unique that are more talented than Goesselin and you don't see them on here posing to be king of the hill. Don't sell them short just because you don't have access to them as you do Goesselin. That brings up another issue, if Goesselin was so succesful how is he able to spend so much time posting to all of these message bds. I'm up to my azz in snow in upstate NY that's my excuse but Texas is a mild climate state where you can install year round, No? Either way sorry you took my post to heart but that's my opinion on the matter.

I do beilive paul stated he was posting them to show the different effects you can do with lighting and his main intention is to try and help guys do it right. Gambino is definatly talented. No doubt about that but I do think paul is far from amature. I respect your opinion. I also dont recall paul saying he is the best so why bring him into it. Why not just say check out this site. No reason to slam a guy for trying to help.

landscapelight

02-19-2006, 08:02 PM

perhaps I was a bit overzealous but even this guy has more horsepower under the hood than Sr.
www.theoutdoorlights.com

Pro-Scapes

02-19-2006, 10:43 PM

perhaps I was a bit overzealous but even this guy has more horsepower under the hood than Sr.
www.theoutdoorlights.com

so lets see your work

landscapelight

02-19-2006, 10:48 PM

No you cannot. But I will tell you that my work even puts Gambino to shame.

Pro-Scapes

02-20-2006, 12:41 AM

If your that good wouldnt you be proud of your work ? I dont know where you get off calling Paul an amature and saying how great Gambino is then not showing your work.

Wierd lol

landscapelight

02-20-2006, 08:26 PM

so where's your work bigshot!

NightScenes

02-20-2006, 09:02 PM

Billy, some people don't deserve the time it takes to respond.

'Nough said.

Pro-Scapes

02-20-2006, 09:59 PM

so where's your work bigshot!

I never claimed to be a big shot like you did therefore I dont need to be posting any of my work. I do beilive I stated I was new in the high end lighting dept.

Sean...Jodi someone lol Paul has been a huge help to many here. Whats with this guy. Taunting like that is a bit uncalled for dont yall think.

cgland

02-20-2006, 10:35 PM

Yeah! I can tell how much better you think you are than Gambino by the way you Sucked his A$$. I think you are the amateur! A$$hole!

Chris

landscapelight

02-21-2006, 09:53 PM

Takes a big man to talk like that on a message bd.

cgland

02-21-2006, 10:53 PM

I would think I could say the same of you!

Chris

landscapelight

02-21-2006, 10:59 PM

maybe your right let's call a truce.

cgland

02-21-2006, 11:14 PM

DEAL!:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

Chris

Pro-Scapes

02-22-2006, 01:43 PM

maybe your right let's call a truce.

too late lol hes gone Sean took him off this morning

cgland

02-22-2006, 01:58 PM

No big loss!

Chris

TheHotShotKid

04-05-2006, 09:05 PM

Bump to top for STEVEPARROTT

Travisty

04-06-2006, 06:53 PM

Nice Talking with you on the phone Paul. Look forward to meeting you at that Christmas lights training..
Travis Schiffner
ShadowScapes

NightScenes

04-06-2006, 09:29 PM

Always a pleasure Travis. It's always good to talk to people about lighting and such.
Have a great evening!!